Disinfo: Previous government was sabotaging prisoner exchanges in Donbas due to anti-Russian hysteria and Russophobia

Summary

If there was a clear decision to exchange all prisoners, then it could be implemented. It will take a short period of time. This could have been done under Poroshenko, but he didn’t want it, intentionally, because he didn’t need any territory or these people, he needed a policy of anti-Russian hysteria and Russophobia.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the War in Ukraine and the Minsk agreements. In the last five years, numerous talks on the exchange of the prisoners have been held in the Minsk format (in the Trilateral Contact Group). As a result, hundreds of prisoners have been exchanged during 2014-2017. In general, 4 prisoner swaps have taken place: on 26-27 December 2014, 26-27 August 2015, 2 August 2017, and 27 December 2017. Recently, on 7 September 2019, another exchange took place when both Ukraine and Russia released 35 prisoners. President Zelenskyy has also mentioned that the prisoner exchange is one of the major topics to be discussed during the meeting on 9 December 2019 in France in the Normandy Format. See previous disinformation narrative claiming that Kyiv has no intention of exchanging prisoners with the Kremlin.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 176
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25/11/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Ukraine, Russia
  • Keywords: Eastern Ukraine, Anti-Russian, Minsk agreements, Russophobia, War in Ukraine
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Disinfo: Ukraine does not fulfil key point of Minsk agreements on negotiations with "LDNR"

The Ukrainian government does not fulfil the key requirement of the Minsk agreements on direct negotiations with the leadership of the LNR and the DNR.

Disproof

This is a common Kremlin narrative that Ukraine refuses to implement the Minsk agreements. Since 2014, negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict in the Donbas have been held within the framework of the Normandy format and the Minsk process. A special Trilateral contact group is working on a peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas. Three parties are involved in this process: representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE. Unofficially, representatives of the "LDNR" factions are also present. The second set of measures to implement the Minsk agreements was signed on 12 February 2015. The first paragraph of the document relates to an immediate ceasefire. Next, it is necessary to withdraw heavy weapons, ensure OSCE monitoring, release prisoners, grant Donbas special status and hold local elections, amnesty the parties to the conflict and restore control over the Ukrainian-Russian border in the conflict zone. There are no conditions that the Ukrainian authorities should conduct direct negotiations with the leaders of the "LDNR" factions in the Minsk agreements.

Disinfo: Ukraine is governed from abroad and has lost its territories because of "Russophobia"

Today Ukraine is governed from abroad as it betted on Russophobia and as a result lost its industry, Crimea, thousands of people, and is losing Donbas.

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about Ukraine, the war in Ukraine and the sovereignty of Ukraine. Ukraine is recognised in international law as a sovereign nation-state, with its own flag, nationality, language and with a democratically-elected president and parliament. Ukraine is not controlled by any foreign government, while its sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected by most of the free world but have been violated by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since February 2014.

Disinfo: The US and EU control Ukraine

Ukraine never existed as an independent state. The country is under external control.

Disproof

Another conspiracy theory that the United States and the European Union control Ukraine’s foreign and domestic policies.

Ukraine is an independent state whose sovereignty is respected both in the EU and in the USA. The United States recognised Ukraine as an independent state on December 25, 1991. Since then, Washington has been working closely with Ukraine, directing its assistance to support the development of a safe, democratic, prosperous and free Ukraine, fully integrated into the Euro-Atlantic community. The European Union also supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Ukraine is a priority partner for the EU. In June 2014, the EU and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, which promotes deeper political ties, stronger economic links and the respect for common values.